Hawaii ends Braedon’s winning run
Both broke well but the eventual winner, trained by Graham Holland for Helen and Michael O’Dwyer, raced the outside line impressively to lead down the back.
The strong runner then pulled clear in great style to put five lengths of daylight between them, in 28.22, with Ivy Hill Bart keeping on to earn his place in the final.
Country Legend took the first heat with a trap-to-line victory. Maurice Heffernan’s dog broke as well as ever and, from a good draw along the fence, was able to turn in front of Beaming Boost.
A couple of lengths separated them down the back and, being a strong stayer, the leader forged clear to double that advantage with a career-best 28.33. Cable Bay also stayed on well to take third place, just a neck further back.
The semi-finals of the Barrington’s Hospital Treaty Cup open sprint were also down for decision and the respective heats went to Southern Sprint (Youghal) winner Business Scholar and Supersprint (Curraheen) winner Boozed Tony.
Business Scholar was sent off the even-money favourite for the first semi-final and he broke well enough, but was trumped by the trapping ability of Not Done Yet, who led by a length on the run-up.
However, the eventual winner, owned by Pat Pyne and Patsy Myers, Fermoy, used his rival as a great guide to slip through along the inside around the bends.
The favourite was in front turning for home, and ran on powerfully to beat regular Curraheen scorer Kilmoney Kid by two lengths, in 18.79, with Not Done Yet taking the third spot in the final.
Boozed Tony, who picked up é3,500 for his recent victory in the Southern Sprint in Cork, comfortably justified favouritism in the second semi-final. Trained by Paraic Campion for Marie Campion, Thurles, the 5-4 chance broke best of all and, with some crowding along the inner, had a length and a half to spare as they raced to the turn. From there he railed impressively to race home two and a half lengths clear of Collectionbasket, in 18.86, with Supersprint runner-up Tubs Astral, who was progressing nicely when finding trouble around the bends, just a short head back in third.
Trainer Graham Holland was utterly dominant at Shelbourne Park, winning seven of the 12 races at the Dublin venue on Saturday night. Chief amongst the trainer’s septet was the victory of Ballydoyle Honey, in an open 525. The bitch, who won the Red Mills Unraced Stake at Clonmel, had to be very tough to hold her ground at the first turn.
She turned in a share of the lead but soon began to assert her superiority. Pulling clear with every stride thereafter, she crossed the line eight lengths clear of Piercestown Lucy, in 28.39. Rackethall Royal (28.82), Tolpuddle Mist (28.65), Rural Maui (28.60), Warrior Gwen (28.86), Hooverville (29.94 550) and Riverside Pat (29.93 550) completed what was a near 478-1 seven-timer.
Outright favourite Paradise Maverik got his Cesarewitch bid off to a winning start on Saturday night. The 1-2 chance took over in front around the opening bends, and dominated thereafter as he raced home two clear of Highview Craft in 33.56.
Bit Of Berlin took an eventful opening heat. The 4-1 chance was in front when left clear around the third and fourth bends, where the challenging Headman Chris raced right off and lost all chance. The leader ran away to five-length victory over Coolronan Magic in 33.64.
Crompaun Jamesy, trained by Connie Foley, Youghal, ran out a very easy winner of the second heat.
In front approaching the first turn, he pulled away stylishly to win by a wide margin, in 32.66.
In heat three Springwell Katie led in the home straight and pulled six clear of Razmataz Lady, in 33.93. Blenhiem Cracker made all for a runaway success in the fourth heat. The classy tracker was clear early, and raced home nine lengths in front of Ravenswood Gold, in 33.66, with favourite Native Hut, who dropped on his belly at traps and failed to handle the final bends, back in third.
In the fifth heat Droopys Bomber made all and raced unchallenged to a near-ten-length victory over Christmas Oaks finalist Springwell Watsy, in 33.45.
A decent blanket could have covered the six runners in heat seven, but it was Barista Girl who prevailed, by half a length, from Ascot Lydia, in 33.97.
Borahard Phoenix rode an early bump to lead down the back in the last of the eight heats, and the 3-1 chance stayed on nicely to beat Tahina Kadyn by a length, in 34.48.
On Friday night, in Newbridge, Badminton Maid ran out a very easy winner of the Red Mills and Newbridge Track Supporters’ Club Unraced Bitch stake final.
The winner, trained by Donal Murphy for David McGrath, was easy to back at 5-2, but belied a lack of market confidence with a fine display.
The July pup quickened up nicely to lead into the turn, and pulled right away to win by six lengths, from favourite Cashmerefinn, in 28.44.
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